Published Mar 12, 2004
WaltzJmp
10 Posts
I will be done with my CNA classes in the summer and I was just wondering how hard it is for someone with no experience but has taken CNA classes to find a job. I am looking in the Orange County area. Will I be able to get a job at a hospital? I really want to work at a pediatric hospital. Would this be possible or do I have to start at a nursing home?
Love4Me, RN
134 Posts
I am not sure about your area, but here in Michigan it is extremely difficult to get into a hospital without any experience (even though you will be certified). I am currently putting in my time at a nursing home (which by the way, I actually enjoy). I have spoken with HR at a few of my local hospitals, and their requirements vary from 6 to 12 months of experience, all the hospitals required certification, and most of the required certification in CPR. But as I already stated, that is for my area. You should probably get in touch with one of your local hospitals and find out what their requirements are. Have you tried looking online. Many of the hospitals list their requirements in their job searches.
Blackcat99
2,836 Posts
:) I use to live in California. Most hospitals seemed to prefer CNA's who had at least 1 year of nursing home experience. However, that was many years ago so maybe things are different today. Good Luck.
Nurse2B73
53 Posts
There are alot of hospitals in Southern California. Check the yellow pages and I looked on the internet for the Long Beach Area and there are hospitals that are hiring CNA. I know there is Long Beach Memorial Hospital, you have Los Alamitos Medical Center you can check out. There is Kaisers in Southern California and they hire CNAs. There is Pacific Hospital and a hospital in Lakewood.
They are out there. To me I find more when I go on search engines like yahoo or google. If I find more I will put another message up.
I will be done with my CNA in June.
Take Care
edib1
IT REALLY DEPENDS ON WHO IS WILLING TO GIVE YOU A CHANCE AND HOW HARD YOU ARE WILLING TO WORK FOR IT. WHEN I STARTED AS A CNA I WORKED AT A NURSING HOME FOR 6 MONTHS AND THEN I GOT THE CHANCE TO WORK IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM AS A TECH. I BUSTED MY BUTT PUTTING APPLICATIONS INTO THE HOSPITAL AND I FINALLY GOT A BREAK. I THINK THAT NOW THEY ARE SO SHORT STAFFED IN THE HOSPITAL THAT THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO GIVE YOU A CHANCE. I LIVE IN COSTA MESA NOW AND I WORK AT HUNTINGTON BEACH HOSPITAL, I KNOW THAT THEY ALWAYS NEED CNAS THERE BUT THERE IS NO PEDS UNIT. THERE IS ALSO FOUNTAIN VALLEY HOSPITAL, ORANGE COAST MEMORIAL, HOAG HOSPITAL THERE ARE SO MANY JUST APPLY THATS ALL YOU CAN DO, JUST REMEMBER THAT EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON DONT GET DISCOURAGED IF YOU DONT GET HIRED AT ONE PLACE YOU JUST MIGHT GET HIRED AT ANOTHER HOSPITAL THAT HAS MORE TO OFFER. IF YOU CANT GET INTO PEDS BUT YOU CAN GET INTO ANOTHER UNIT THEN TAKE THE JOB AND YOU CAN USUALLY TRANSFER TO ANOTHER UNIT AFTER 6 MONTHS. IT ALWAYS GOOD TO GET YOUR FOOT IN THE DOOR SOMEHOW.
GOOD LUCK:p